U.S. patent number 5,507,096 [Application Number 08/304,889] was granted by the patent office on 1996-04-16 for flushcutter.
Invention is credited to Gregory G. Gamba.
United States Patent |
5,507,096 |
Gamba |
April 16, 1996 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Flushcutter
Abstract
A cutting tool for cutting an object flush against a surface
from which it protrudes is disclosed. The cutting tool comprises a
first jaw member which includes a blade having a cutting edge. A
second jaw member is pivotally connected to the first jaw member
and may include an anvil having a substantially planar surface with
a first end substantially aligned with the cutting edge of the
blade. The handle which may have first and second arms is connected
to the first and second jaw members for facilitating relative
movement of the cutting edge and the substantially planar surface
between an open position at which the cutting edge is remote from
the substantially planar surface and a closed position at which the
cutting edge is adjacent to the first end of the substantially
planar surface.
Inventors: |
Gamba; Gregory G. (Livingston,
NJ) |
Family
ID: |
23178426 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/304,889 |
Filed: |
September 13, 1994 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
30/186;
30/337 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B26B
27/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B26B
27/00 (20060101); B26B 017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;30/178,193,229,254,260,337,186 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rada; Rinaldi I.
Assistant Examiner: Stelacone; Jay A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz
& Mentlik
Claims
I claim:
1. A cutting tool comprising:
a first jaw member including a blade having a cutting edge and an
outer surface extending substantially coplanar to said blade; a
second jaw member pivotally connected to said first jaw member and
including a substantially planar surface having an outer edge
substantially aligned with said cutting edge of said blade, said
second jaw member further including an outer surface extending
substantially perpendicular to said substantially planar surface;
and handle means connected to said first and second jaw members for
facilitating relative movement of said cutting edge and said
substantially planar surface between an open position at which said
cutting edge is remote from said substantially planar surface and a
closed position at which said cutting edge overlies said
substantially planar surface and is at least substantially adjacent
said outer surface of said first jaw member and said outer edge of
said substantially planar surface, said cutting edge and said outer
edge of said substantially planar surface of said second jaw member
and said outer surface of said second jaw member being constructed
and arranged in a substantially flush configuration whereby an
object placed between said substantially planar surface and said
cutting edge when in said open position can be cut upon relative
movement of said cutting edge and said substantially planar surface
to said closed position so that the object may obtain a flush
orientation with respect to an associated surface from which the
object may have been protruding.
2. The cutting tool of claim 1 wherein said blade is a utility
blade.
3. The cutting tool of claim 1 wherein said second jaw member
comprises an anvil, said substantially planar surface being part of
said anvil.
4. The cutting tool of claim 1 wherein said first jaw member
comprises mounting means for supporting said blade, said cutting
tool further comprising securing means for securing said blade on
said mounting means.
5. The cutting tool of claim 4 wherein said securing means is
adapted to permit selected removal and replacement of said blade
with respect to said mounting means.
6. The cutting tool of claim 4 wherein said mounting means
comprises an upper groove and a lower groove extending parallel to
each other, said upper and lower grooves being sized and shaped to
receive a blade therebetween and being associated with said
securing means so that the blade is securely retained between said
upper and lower grooves when in assembled position.
7. The cutting tool of claim 6 wherein said securing means
comprises a set screw arranged above said mounting means and
extending into said mounting means so that said upper and lower
grooves are selectively moved closer to and further from each other
whereby said blade can be securely retained therebetween in
assembled position or can be selectively removed therefrom.
8. The cutting tool of claim 7 wherein said mounting means further
comprises a slot arranged between said upper and lower grooves and
extending parallel thereto, said mounting means further comprising
an aperture including a threaded receptacle having an axis
extending through said slot and being perpendicular thereto, said
set screw being arranged to extend through said aperture at one
side of said slot and into said threaded receptacle at the other
side of said slot so that adjustment of the relative positioning of
said upper and lower grooves can be obtained.
9. The cutting tool of claim 1 wherein said substantially planar
surface is knurled so that an object can be securely retained
between said first and second jaw means during cutting
operations.
10. A cutting tool comprising:
a first jaw member including a blade having a cutting edge and an
outer surface extending substantially coplanar to said blade; a
second jaw member including an anvil pivotally connected to said
first jaw member, said anvil having a substantially planar surface
and an outer edge defining a straight edge substantially aligned
with said cutting edge of said blade, said second jaw member
further including an outer surface extending substantially
perpendicular to said substantially planar surface; and a handle
comprising a first arm fixed to said first jaw member and a second
arm fixed to said second jaw member, said first and second arms
being moveable toward and away from each other to facilitate
relative movement of said cutting edge and said anvil with respect
to each other between an open position at which said cutting edge
is remote from said anvil and a closed position at which said
cutting edge overlies said anvil and is at least substantially
adjacent to said outer edge, of said substantially planar surface
of said anvil, said first and second arms being pivotally connected
to each other at the same location of the pivotal connection
between said first and second jaw members, said cutting edge and
said outer surface of said first jaw member and said outer edge of
said anvil of said second jaw member and said outer surface of said
second jaw member being constructed and arranged in a substantially
flush configuration whereby an object placed between said anvil and
said cutting edge when in said open position can be cut upon
relative movement of said cutting edge and said substantially
planar surface of said anvil to a closed position so that the
object may obtain a flush orientation with respect to an associated
surface from which the object may have been protruding.
11. The cutting tool of claim 10 wherein said blade is a utility
blade.
12. The cutting tool of claim 10 wherein said first jaw member
comprises mounting means for supporting said blade, said cutting
tool further comprising securing means for securing said blade on
said mounting means.
13. The cutting tool of claim 12 wherein said securing means is
adapted to permit selective removal and replacement of said blade
secured on said mounting means.
14. The cutting tool of claim 13 wherein said mounting means
comprises an upper groove and a lower groove extending parallel to
each other, said upper and lower grooves being sized and shaped to
receive a blade therebetween and being associated with said
securing means so that said blade is securely retained between said
upper and lower grooves when in assembled position.
15. The cutting tool of claim 14 wherein said securing means
comprises a set screw arranged above said mounting means and
extending into said mounting means so that said upper and lower
grooves are selectively moved closer to and further from each other
whereby said blade can be securely retained therebetween in
assembled position or can be selectively removed therefrom.
16. The cutting tool of claim 15 wherein said mounting means
further comprises a slot arranged between said upper and lower
grooves and extending parallel thereto, said mounting means further
comprising an aperture including a threaded receptacle having an
axis extending through said slot and being perpendicular thereto,
said set screw being arranged to extend through said aperture at
one side of said slot and into said threaded receptacle at the
other side of said slot so that adjustment of the relative
positioning of said upper and lower grooves can be obtained.
17. The cutting tool of claim 10 wherein said first arm is
integrally attached to said first jaw member and said second arm is
integrally attached to said second jaw member.
18. The cutting tool of claim 17 wherein said first arm and said
first jaw member extend collinearly along a single axis.
19. The cutting tool of claim 18 wherein at least a portion of said
second arm and said second jaw member are offset from each other by
an integral connecting portion so that at least a portion of said
second arm and said second jaw member extend substantially parallel
to each other along first and second axes, said collinear first arm
and first jaw member having a top side and a bottom side, said
second arm and second jaw member being arranged on both said top
and bottom sides of said first arm and said first jaw member.
20. The cutting tool of claim 10 wherein said anvil includes a
knurled substantially planar surface so that the object to be cut
can be securely retained between said anvil and said cutting edge
of said blade during cutting operations.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to cutting tools. More particularly,
the present invention relates to a cutting tool used to cut objects
protruding from a surface in such a manner so that the object will
be disposed flush with respect to the surface from which it
protruded after the object has been cut.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cutting tools are widely used to perform many different functions.
For example, cutting tools are used to cut hair, clothing,
electrical wire, paper, flowers, tree branches, wood products,
metal products, carpeting, food, etc.
In order to increase cutting performance, the cutting tool art has
become highly specialized so that a different type of cutting tool
may be used to best perform each of the aforementioned cutting
operations. More particularly, a standard garden shears may be used
to cut tree branches, prune plants or cut flowers. A scissor may be
used for ordinary paper cutting operations while scissors having a
more precision-type blade may be used to cut hair or clothing. High
powered bolt cutters may be used to cut metal products while
singled-edged utility knives may be used by contractors for various
trimming operations.
Notwithstanding the wide variety of cutting tools that are
available in the commercial marketplace, a need has existed for a
cutting tool which can be used to cut shims flush against various
object from which the shims initially protrude, such as doors,
windows, kitchen cabinets, vanities, staircases, skylights,
sheetrock walls, plaster walls, dishwashers, tub enclosures, shower
stalls, filing cabinets, desks, refrigerators, counter tops, and
the like. In this regard, a need has existed to cut shims flush
against objects such as a window jamb or a door jamb after a window
or door is installed and made level and plumb.
In a typical scenario, a window is installed into a frame, which
may comprise a rectangular arrangement of two by fours. Tapered
shims which may between nine inches and sixteen inches long and
approximately one and a half inches wide are then placed between
the window assembly and the frame so that the window can be made
"true" (i.e., level and plumb). To accomplish this, the shims are
generally placed in one or both of the bottom corners of the window
assemblies. Shims are also usually placed between the sides of the
window assembly and the frame to prevent warping or bowing of the
window jamb over a period of time. After the shimming operation is
completed, the window assembly may be tack-nailed by nailing
through the window jamb into the shims and into the two by four
frame. Since the window jamb is typically only about four and a
half inches wide, the longer shims are left protruding therefrom.
The shims then need to be cut flush with the window jamb so that a
pleasing aesthetic final trim may be installed to cover the opening
between the window jamb and sheetrock arranged adjacent to the
window jamb.
Prior to the present invention, window installers performed such
flush cutting by using a saw or utility knife. The saw would be
used to cut the shims flush with the jamb. Similarly, a utility
knife could be used to continuously score the shims at a location
adjacent to the associated window jamb until the shim had been
sufficiently weakened at which time it would be broken off along
the score lines.
The aforementioned prior art methods of cutting shims flush with
window jambs is not particularly desirable because it is time
consuming and inefficient.
The present invention addresses the problem of obtaining flush cut
shims with respect to associated window jambs by providing a new
cutting tool which is adapted to quickly and accurately cut shims
flush with an associated window jamb.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a cutting
tool is provided. The cutting tool comprises a first jaw member
including a blade having a cutting edge, and a second jaw member
pivotally connected to the first jaw member. The second jaw member
includes a substantially planar surface which has a first end
substantially in alignment with the cutting edge of the blade. The
cutting tool also includes handle means connected to the first and
second jaw members for facilitating relative movement of the
cutting edge and the substantially planar surface between an open
position at which the cutting edge is remote from the substantially
planar surface and a closed position at which the cutting edge is
adjacent the first end of the substantially planar surface whereby
an object placed between the substantially planar surface and the
cutting edge when the jaws are in their open position can be cut
upon relative movement of the cutting edge and the substantially
planar surface to the closed position so that the object may obtain
a flush orientation with respect to an associated surface from
which the object may have been protruding.
In a preferred embodiment, the blade of the cutting tool is a
utility blade. It is also preferable for the substantially planar
surface of the second jaw member to comprise at least part of an
anvil.
The first jaw member preferably comprises mounting means for
supporting the blade. Further, it is preferable for the cutting
tool to comprise securing means for securing the blade on the
mounting means.
It is preferable for the mounting means to comprise an upper groove
and a lower groove which extend parallel to each other. The upper
and lower grooves may be sized and shaped to receive a blade
therebetween and are preferably associated with the securing means
so that the blade is securely retained between the upper and lower
grooves when in assembled position.
The securing means may comprise a set screw which extends into the
mounting means so that the distance between the upper and lower
grooves is selectively altered whereby the blade can be securely
retained therebetween in assembled position, or can be selectively
removed therefrom.
In a preferred embodiment, the cutting tool further comprises a
slot arranged between the upper and lower grooves. The slot may
extend parallel to the grooves so that an aperture of the mounting
means, which includes a threaded receptacle, is arranged to extend
perpendicular to and through the slot. In this preferred
embodiment, the set screw may be arranged to extend through the
aperture on one side of the slot and into the threaded receptacle
at the other side of the slot so that adjustment of the relative
positioning of the upper and lower grooves can be obtained.
It is desirable for the planar surface to be knurled so that an
object to be cut can be securely retained between the first and
second jaw means during cutting operation.
The handle means may comprise a first arm and a second arm which is
movable toward and away from each other to obtain relative movement
of the cutting edge and the anvil with respect to each other
between the open and closed positions. Preferably, the first and
second arms are pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point
which corresponds with the pivot point arranged between the first
and second jaw members. The first arm may be integrally attached to
the first jaw member and the second arm may be integrally attached
to the second jaw member. In one preferred embodiment, the first
arm and the first jaw member extend collinearly along a single
axis. It is also preferred for at least a portion of the second arm
and the second jaw member to be offset from each other by an
integral connection portion so that at least a portion of the
second arm and the second jaw member extend substantially parallel
to each other along first and second axes.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
cutting tool which can be used to cut shims flush with respect to
associated objects such as doors, windows, kitchen cabinets,
vanities, staircases, skylights, sheetrock walls, plaster walls,
dishwashers, tub enclosures, shower stalls, filing cabinets, desks,
refrigerators, counter tops, and the like, or other objects from
which the shims may extend.
It is another object of the present invention to obtain such flush
cutting of shims quickly and accurately.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
cutting tool which is durable and which can be manufactured
relatively inexpensively.
The above summary and objects, as well as further object, features
and advantages of the present invention will be more fully
understood when considered in view of the following detailed
description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with
the drawing which follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a left side perspective view of the cutting tool of the
present invention with the jaws thereof in their closed
position.
FIG. 2 is a left side perspective view of the cutting tool shown in
FIG. 1 with the jaws thereof in their open position.
FIG. 3 is a right side perspective view of the cutting tool of the
present invention with the jaws thereof in their closed
position.
FIG. 4 is a right side perspective view of the cutting tool shown
in FIG. 3 with the jaws thereof in their open position.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the cutting tool of the present
invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective exploded view of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cutting tool of the present
invention prior to cutting a shim flush with respect to an
associated window jamb.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cutting tool of the present
invention shown in FIG. 7 immediately after an associated shim has
been cut flush against the window jamb.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a cutting tool generally designated 10 is shown in FIGS.
1-8. The present cutting tool may be marketed under the trademark
FLUSHCUTTER. It should be appreciated that although the cutting
tool 10 will be described herein as a tool for cutting shims flush
with an associated window jamb, it can also be used for many
different applications in which a cooperating blade and anvil can
be used to more efficiently cut an object. Further, the cutting
tool 10 is particularly useful as a tool for use by tradesmen as
well as do it yourselfers who desire to cut shims, or other
objects, flush against a surface from which the shims or other
objects initially extended.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cutting tool 10 includes a first jaw
member generally designated 12, which is shown as an upper jaw
member. Since the cutting tool 10 can be used in different
orientations, the term first jaw member will be used herein for
consistent reference.
The first jaw member 12 includes a bottom support surface 14 which
has a groove 16 therein for supporting a cutting edge of an
associated blade. The first jaw member 12 also includes a top
support surface 18 and a top groove 20 extending parallel to the
bottom groove 16. The top groove 20 is adapted to receive a top
edge of an associated blade. Collectively, the bottom support
surface 14 with the groove 16 therein and the top support surface
18 with the groove 20 therein serve as mounting means in which an
associated blade, such as a utility blade 28 may be securely
retained. The utility blade 28 includes a cutting edge 30 which
extends partially within the bottom groove 16. Part of the cutting
edge 30 extends outside of the groove 16 for performing the desired
cutting operations while the top edge of the utility blade 28 is
mounted within the groove 20 when the utility blade 28 is in
assembled position.
As clearly shown in FIGS. 1-4, a slot 22 extends between the bottom
and top grooves 16 and 20 and is arranged parallel thereto. The
purpose of the slot 22 is to permit selective movement of the
bottom and top groove 16 and 20 closer and further from each other
so that the utility blade 28 can be selectively replaced or secured
in assembled position. In this regard, if the cutting edge 30 of
the blade 28 should become dull, the set screw 24 can be loosened
as described above so that the blade 28 can slide out of its
assembled position within the grooves 16 and 20. At that point, the
blade 28 can be turned around so that the unused portion of the
cutting edge 30 can be exposed, or a new blade can be inserted into
the grooves 16 and 20 and thereafter be secured by the set screw 24
into assembled position. Although the preferred embodiment includes
a removeable and replaceable blade as discussed above, alternate
embodiments may include a permanent blade that can be sharpened as
necessary.
A set screw 24 and a washer 26 is arranged adjacent to and on top
of support surface 18. As shown in FIG. 6, the set screw 24 extends
into the top support surface 18 and the bottom support surface 14
by extending through a top aperture 27 and on aligned threaded
bottom aperture 29. As further shown in FIG. 6, the slot 22 is
transversely arranged between the top aperture 27 and the bottom
threaded aperture 29 so that the set screw 24 extends across the
slot 22. As the set screw 24 is screwed into the threaded bottom
aperture 29, it bears down on the top support surface 18 and exerts
a force which pulls the bottom support surface 14 toward the top
support surface 18. Thus, as the set screw 24 is tightened, the
distance across the slot 22 is diminished. This permits the
associated utility blade 28 to be securely retained within its
assembled position in bottom groove 16 and top groove 20. When it
is desired to replace the utility blade 28, the set screw 24 is
backed out of the threaded bottom aperture 29 and the distance
across the slot 22 is increased. Thus, the utility blade 28 can be
removed from its assembled position within the bottom and top
grooves 16 and 20 and a new utility blade can be inserted into
assembled position.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, the first jaw member 12 has an outer
surface (unnumbered) which preferably extends substantially
coplanar with the utility blade 28 on at least on of the top and
bottom support surfaces 18 and 14. The outer surface is described
as being substantially coplanar with the utility blade 28 because
the blade may be slightly recessed from the plane of the outer
surface when it is in assembled position on the first jaw member
12. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blade
28 is slightly recessed from the outer surface because it is
arranged within spaced grooves 16 and 20.
The cutting tool 10 also includes a second jaw member generally
designated 32 in FIGS. 1-8. The second jaw member 32 preferably
comprises an anvil 34 having a substantially planar surface adapted
to cooperate with cutting edge of the blade 28 as discussed further
below. The substantially planar surface of the anvil 34 is
preferably knurled as shown by reference numeral 36 to provide for
improved gripping of an object to be cut when the object is placed
between the anvil 34 and the cutting blade 30 prior to and during
cutting operations. The anvil 34 includes an outer surface 37 which
may extend perpendicular to the planar knurled surface. The anvil
34 also includes an outer edge 38 which is aligned with the cutting
edge 30 of the associated blade 28. This feature of the present
invention can best be appreciated with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and
5. The second jaw member 32 also includes a bottom section 40
spaced from the substantially planar surface of the anvil 34.
As best appreciated when discussed in connection with the operation
of the present cutting tool 10 below, the relationship between the
outer edge 38 on the planar surface of the anvil 34 and the cutting
edge 30 of the utility blade 28 is an important feature of the
present invention as it permits the cutting tool 10 to cut a shim
flush against a window jamb.
Preferably, the cutting tool 10 includes a first handle arm 58
which is connected to the first jaw member 12, and a second handle
arm 60 which is connected to the second jaw member 32. In a
particular preferred embodiment, the first handle arm 58 and the
second handle arm 60 are integral with the respective first and
second jaw members 12 and 32. In the preferred embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1-8, the first handle arm 58 and the first jaw member 12
extend collinearly along a single axis. Unlike the collinear
relationship between the first handle 58 and the first jaw member
12, the second handle 60 and the second jaw member 32 are
integrally connected via a connecting portion having a top section
46 adjacent to handle portion 60, a bottom section 42 adjacent to
the bottom side 40 of the second jaw member 32, and a central
section 44 disposed between the top section 46 and the bottom
section 42. As clearly shown in FIGS. 1-4, the connecting portion
is integrally connected at an acute angle with respect to the
handle 60 and the second jaw member 32.
The first jaw member 12 and the first handle 58 is pivotally
connected to the second jaw member 32 and the second handle 60 at
the central section 44 of the connecting portion which extends
between the second jaw member 32 and the second handle 60. This
feature of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-6.
A pivotal relationship between the first jaw member 12 and the
second jaw member 32 is obtained by placing a screw 48 through
aligned apertures which extend through an intermediate location
between the first jaw member 12 and the first handle arm 58, and
the second jaw member 32 and the second handle arm 60,
respectively, as best shown in FIG. 6. The threaded screw 48 is
secured to the cutting tool 10 by nut 50 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
The pivot location represented by the location of threaded screw
48, is selected to optimize the force which will be imparted to an
object to be cut, such as a shim, when placed between cutting edge
30 of blade 28 and the knurled surface 36 of the anvil 34. More
particularly, the selected pivot location of threaded screw 48
results in a shearing affect during cutting of the associated shims
as the first jaw 12 and the second jaw 32 are moved from the open
position to their closed position. The cutting action of the
cutting tool 10 will be discussed further hereinbelow.
Various materials may be used to make the anvil 34. However, in
preferred embodiments, the anvil 34 is made of a composite metal
such as aluminum or brass. As is known, the blade 28 may be made of
steel. It should be appreciated, however, that the blade 28 may
also be made out of other suitable metals and other hard
materials.
When the first jaw 12 and the second jaw 32 are arranged in a
closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a proximate portion of
the first handle arm 58 is arranged adjacent to the lower flat
surface 52 at the top region of connecting section 46. As evident
from FIG. 3, when the first jaw member 12 and the second jaw member
32 are arranged in their closed position, an edge of the connecting
portion between the second jaw 32 and the second handle 60 extends
substantially parallel to a beveled edge 64 on a proximate portion
of the first handle arm 58. Additionally, the first handle arm 58
and the second handle arm 60 extend substantially parallel to each
other when the first and second jaws are in their closed
position.
The cutting tool 10 includes various stopping sections adapted to
prevent the first and second jaw members from getting past a
preselected fully opened position. In this regard, when the first
and second jaw members are arranged in their fully opened position,
as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the first handle arm 58 and the second
handle arm 60 extend at an acute angle with respect to each other.
In a preferred embodiment, the first handle arm 58 and the second
handle arm 60 include the aforementioned various stopping portions
which prevent the first jaw member 12 and the second jaw member 32
from moving beyond the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. In
particular, beveled stopping portions 54 and 56 arranged on the
central area 44 of the connecting portion between the second handle
arm 60 and the second jaw member 32 are adapted to abut the second
handle arm 58, respectively, at the top and bottom sides in the
area marked by threaded screw 48. A further stopping feature is
illustrated in FIG. 4 as edge member 62 and the proximate portion
of the first handle arm 58 abuts a preselected position on the
connecting portion between the second handle arm 60 and the second
jaw member 32.
In operation, the cutting tool 10 may be used to cut shims flush
against a window jamb after the shims have been placed in their
proper position so that a window assembly is level and plumb in a
window frame. The shims are typically made of a relatively soft
wood. However, shims made of other materials such as hard woods,
plastic, and the like can also be cut with the present invention.
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate how the cutting tool 10 can be used to cut
shims flush against a window jamb.
In particular, FIG. 7 illustrates a shim protruding from a window
jamb and placed between the knurled planar surface 36 of the anvil
34 and the cutting edge 30 of the blade 28. A generally flat outer
surface 37 of the anvil 34, which extends perpendicular to the
knurled planar surface 36, is placed flush against the window jamb
to provide a reference location so that a flush cut of the
protruding shim can be obtained. Since the cutting edge 30 of the
blade 28 is aligned substantially with the outer edge 38 of the
anvil 34, no further alignment is necessary in order to obtain the
desired flush cut.
FIG. 8 illustrates a shim immediately after it has been cut flush
against a window jamb by using the cutting tool 10 of the present
invention. This is accomplished by moving the first handle arm 58
and the second handle arm 60 toward each other so that the cutting
edge 30 of the blade 28 and the knurled surface 36 of the anvil 34
are moved to their closed position. As this movement takes place,
sufficient force is exerted on the shim by the cooperating blade 28
and anvil 34 to cleanly slice through the shim whereby the shim is
cut flush against the window jamb.
The use of the present cutting tool 10 overcomes the problems
associated with prior art methods of cutting shims flush against
window jambs in that it saves a large amount of time and permits
the shims to be accurately cut flush against a window jamb with a
minimal amount of skill. As discussed above, it should be
appreciated that the cutting tool 10 can be used for many
applications other than cutting shims flush against window jambs.
In particular, it is also useful to cut shims and other objects
flush against doors, kitchen cabinets, vanities, staircases,
skylights, sheetrock walls, plaster walls, dishwashers, tub
enclosures, shower stalls, filing cabinets, desks, refrigerators,
counter tops, and the like.
While the foregoing description and figures are directed toward
preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it
should be appreciated that numerous modifications can be made to
each of the components of the cutting tool 10. Indeed, such
modifications are encouraged to be made in the materials, structure
and arrangement of the preferred embodiments of the present
invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the same.
Thus, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment should
be taken by way of illustration rather than by way of limitation
with respect to the present invention, which is defined by the
claims set forth below.
* * * * *